The 12 Color Seasons

How 12 season color analysis builds each season

Every season has one dominant trait and one secondary trait. The dominant trait is the quality that matters most for you; the secondary trait ties you to your family. Soft Autumn, for example, is soft first and warm second. Deep Winter is deep first and cool second.

Within each family, the three seasons follow the same pattern. One is defined by temperature (the "true" season, such as Warm Spring or Cool Winter). One is defined by depth (Light or Deep). One is defined by chroma (Bright or Soft). That gives 4 families times 3 = 12.

Neighbouring seasons share a dominant trait across family lines. Soft Autumn and Soft Summer are both soft first, so they look alike; one leans warm, the other cool. That is why each season page includes a comparison with its two closest neighbours.

The three dimensions of color

Temperature (also called undertone or hue) is whether a color leans yellow and golden or blue and pink. Value is how light or dark it is. Chroma is how clear or greyed it is: a bright season wears saturated, jewel-like color, while a soft season wears muted, dusty color.

Your coloring has the same three dimensions. The season whose palette matches you on all three makes your skin look even and your eyes look clear. A palette that clashes on even one dimension can make you look tired or washed out.

Spring color seasons

Warm and clear, from delicate to vivid.

• Light Spring

  Light first, warm secondLight Spring is a pale, gently warm season with a fresh, sunlit look. Peach, buttercup, aqua and periwinkle suit you, while dark, heavy or dusty colors weigh your face down.

• Warm Spring

  Warm first, bright second · also True SpringWarm Spring is the most golden of the spring seasons, with clear, sunny, medium-light colors. Golden yellow, tangerine, warm coral, kelly green and turquoise light you up. Cool, greyed or very dark shades make your skin look dull.

• Bright Spring

  Bright first, warm second · also Clear SpringBright Spring is the clearest, most saturated spring season, with a warm lean and high contrast. Coral red, turquoise, bright yellow and grass green make you look awake. Dusty, greyed or heavy colors swallow your features.

Summer color seasons

Cool and soft, from airy to dusty.

• Light Summer

  Light first, cool secondLight Summer is a pale, cool-leaning season with an airy, delicate feel. Powder blue, lavender, rose pink and soft mint look natural on you. Heavy darks and hot, saturated shades crowd your features.

• Cool Summer

  Cool first, soft second · also True SummerCool Summer is the most blue-based of the summer seasons, with medium depth and gentle color. Slate blue, raspberry, soft navy and rose look natural on you. Orange and warm earth tones turn your skin sallow or ruddy.

• Soft Summer

  Soft first, cool second · also Muted SummerSoft Summer is a cool, smoky season of greyed blues, roses and sea greens. Your colors look like a summer sea under cloud: grey-blue, dusty rose, muted teal and mauve. Bright, warm or very dark shades sit too loudly on your face.

Autumn color seasons

Warm and earthy, from muted to rich.

• Soft Autumn

  Soft first, warm second · also Muted AutumnSoft Autumn is a gentle, slightly warm season. Your best colors look as if they were mixed with a little grey: sage, camel, dusty coral and soft teal. Bright, icy or very dark shades tend to sit on top of you instead of blending in.

• Warm Autumn

  Warm first, soft second · also True AutumnWarm Autumn is the most golden of the twelve seasons. Rust, mustard, pumpkin, olive and teal make your skin glow, while anything icy, pink-based or grey drains it. Think of spice jars and turning leaves, not sweets or snow.

• Deep Autumn

  Deep first, warm second · also Dark AutumnDeep Autumn is the darkest and richest of the autumns. Burgundy, forest green, bronze, deep teal and espresso give your features definition. Pale, chalky or icy colors leave you looking flat.

Winter color seasons

Cool and high contrast, from icy to deep.

• Deep Winter

  Deep first, cool second · also Dark WinterDeep Winter is a dark, cool-leaning season with strong contrast. Your best colors are rich and saturated, like true red, emerald, plum and deep navy, set against black and crisp white. Pale, dusty or golden shades tend to wash you out.

• Cool Winter

  Cool first, bright second · also True WinterCool Winter is the purest blue-based season, with high contrast and clear, vivid color. Royal blue, fuchsia, pine green, icy pink, pure white and black all suit you. Anything golden, earthy or muted tends to make your skin look dull.

• Bright Winter

  Bright first, cool second · also Clear WinterBright Winter is the most vivid season of all: clear, saturated and slightly cool, with strong contrast. Hot pink, cobalt, emerald, true red and icy lemon look natural on you. Dusty, earthy and greyed colors make you look tired.